The UNLV football team is led by an impressive group of seniors that could be replaced next season by what multiple ranking services are calling the best recruiting class in the Mountain West.

As the early period of national signing day kicked off Wednesday, the Rebels announced a 21-player class with 18 high school players and three junior college transfers. The class ranks first in the Mountain West according to 247Sports, On3 and Rivals.

Kamran Williams, a 5-foot-10-inch running back from Jefferson, Texas, headlines the group. He’s the highest recruit in the class according to 247Sports, which says there are 16 other three-star recruits in the class.

The class includes two athletes from Southern Nevada in Palo Verde linebacker Alexander Green and Liberty defensive lineman Eliah Logo.

UNLV also signed Odom’s son, quarterback Garyt Odom. He played at Faith Lutheran as a junior before finishing his high school career in Arkansas at Fayetteville High School. Brad Odom, Garyt’s uncle and Barry’s older brother, was hired as UNLV’s director of player personnel in 2023. He’s is heavily involved in recruiting, making football even more of a family affair for the Odoms.

Barry Odom has long emphasized the importance of prioritizing high school talent in recruiting. The new class reflects that sentiment, featuring 18 high school players.

But some of the Rebels’ top graduating seniors are junior college products, including center Jack Hasz and All-American punt returner Jacob De Jesus. As such, UNLV will welcome three community college transfers.

The Rebels are set to lose senior linebacker Jackson Woodard, the newly named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year; star receiver and Special Teams Player of the Year Ricky White III; and starting quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams. Tight end Kaleo Ballungay, who boasts the Rebels’ second-most receiving TDs this season with six, is set to graduate as well.

The early class features mostly defensive players (14). The numbers break down to six defensive lineman, six defensive backs, two linebackers, two running backs, two wide receivers, a quarterback, an offensive lineman and a tight end.

“I’m certainly excited about the start of this Rebel recruiting class,” Odom said in a statement. “We have added some key pieces to our foundation that will help build our program and continue the success we have had so far. The urgency and relationships that our staff has in recruiting will help transform UNLV football to great success, and these early signees all have skills and qualities that will be a huge part of that.

“I’m thrilled to add these guys today and look forward to filling out this class in February as we continue to add key pieces to our program.”

UNLV signing class

Name, Pos., Hometown (School)

Mason Alnutt, DE, East Amherst, N.Y. (Canisius)

Mohamed Altayeb, DT, Castle Rock, Colo. (Garden City CC)

Hayden Anderson, WR, Windsor, Calif. (Windsor)

Logan Christensen, S, Santa Margarita, Calif. (JSerra Catholic)

Vi’Naz Cobb, S, St. Louis (Cardinal Ritter College Prep)

Jordan Covington, DT, McKinney, Texas (McKinney)

Alexander Green, LB, Las Vegas (Palo Verde)

Jon Grimmett, TE, Pauls Valley, Okla. (Pauls Valley)

Daniel Hernandez, OL, Houston (Trinity Valley CC)

Quandarius Keyes, CB, Laurel, Miss. (Pearl River)

Eliah Logo, DL, Henderson (Liberty)

Parker Meese, LB, Fayetteville, Ark. (Fayetteville)

Cassidee Miles, WR, Fort Worth, Texas (Central)

Yasir Muhammad, CB, Germantown, Tenn. (Germantown)

Garyt Odom, QB, Fayetteville, Ark. (Fayetteville)

Antonio Parker Jr., CB, St. Louis (Cardinal Ritter College Prep)

Kenji Scanlan, DE, Tacoma, Wash. (Yelm)

Kal-El Togafau, DL, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Rancho Cucamonga)

Joshua Tuchek, CB, Long Beach, Calif. (Millikan)

Cornelius Warren III, RB, Fort Worth, Texas (North Crowley)

Kamran Williams, RB, Jefferson, Texas (Jefferson)

Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.